Bachelor of Music in Education

Specialist music teachers for primary and secondary schools are educated through this programme (the Music teacher programme or Bachelor of Music in Education). This programme is offered by almost all conservatoires; it is a four year full time programme. Each institution has autonomy to develop its own curriculum and its own profile by placing certain emphases on the study programme. However, the curriculum must fit the learning outcomes and competencies described by the HBO-raad (the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences) and the Dutch government. (Once every four years the institutions are reviewed by a special external committee for quality assurance; in future, the music teacher programmes will be subject to the new accreditation system for higher education.) On average, a total of 120 students start music teacher training each year. In general, for primary and the first level of secondary education (year 1-3/4) prospective teachers must hold a Bachelor (second degree) and for higher levels of secondary education a Masters (first degree). For music teachers and sports however a Bachelor degree leads to a qualification to teach at both levels.

The curriculum consists of three domains in which knowledge, skills and personal characteristics are developed in an integrated way. There is a balance in musical, theoretical and pedagogic-didactical skills. In general there is a strong emphasis on artistic and musical skills, although this differs from institute to institute. Students have classes which is focus on musical development:

a weekly lesson in their main instrument (at some institutes, for up to four years);

• choir singing;

• recitals (pop, jazz, classic, mixed);

• lessons in improvisation and composition;

• lessons in playing pop/rock music and non-western music (e.g. African drumming);

• music history and music theory lessons: understanding of musical principles and structures (aural, analytical, theoretical); knowledge and understanding of music history up until modern times;

• some institutes offer music philosophy.

In some lessons with a focus on artistic and musical development there is also a didactic angle: singing lessons, piano lessons, pop lessons, conducting and combo playing.

During the educational programme students are asked to reflect on all these skills in an integrated way. The practice of teaching pedagogic-didactic and musical skills (e.g. adequate and tasteful piano accompaniment, care for musical quality) is equally important.

In general all genres and styles are represented (classical, pop and rock, jazz and world music). Approximately 50% of the students have expertise in classical music and 50% in pop/rock and jazz. In all programmes students learn focus on all genres and styles, but depending on the main musical expertise of the student, a certain genre can be trained more extensively. Increasingly, however, there are students who have a more broad background when they enter the course (e.g. playing classical, jazz and rock/pop). Folk music is not present.